From left front: Gloria Stuart with Stevie, Michele Dixon
From left rear: Joanne Heffernan, Fran Dixon,
Betty-Jo Cugini (Vice President News/News Director NBC10)
Beverly Andrade Johnson, Joe Marc Aurele (President and CEO. Citizens Bank),
Judi Hammerlind Carlson, Kelly Charlebois, and Cheryl Simmons.

TechACCESS Named Citizens Bank/NBC 10 Community Champion

TechACCESS has recently been announced as the Citizens Bank and NBC 10 Community Champion for Special Needs. The Community Champions program was developed last year by Citizens Bank to benefit unsung community heroes by providing non-profit agencies in each state where Citizens does business with a significant cash contribution, volunteer support, and public awareness to fulfill their missions and reach their goals.

Each Community Champion receives a $25,000 contribution in unrestricted funds from Citizens, extensive public relations and promotional support from NBC 10, and volunteer support to bring the selected agency to the "next level" of public awareness. Rhode Island 's first Community Champion was announced in October 2002 by Citizens Bank and NBC 10. Since last October, Citizens has donated over half a million dollars and priceless volunteer support to local non-profit agencies.

TechACCESS was selected as the 1 st Quarter Community Champion because:

•  TechACCESS assists people of all ages, with all types of disabilities. TechACCESS does not ever turn anyone away. If TechACCESS cannot help a particular person, they will work with them to find another agency that can help them. Part of being a Community Champion is being able to reach out and help anyone that asks using community partnerships.

•  Since 1991, TechACCESS has provided life-changing services for over 11,000 individuals with special needs.

•  Most importantly, TechACCESS empowers people with special needs to realize their dreams and achieve their goals.

The Community Champions program and TechACCESS: Together, we're turning disabilities into abilities and dreams into realities!